First Thursday Art Walk of Laguna Beach collaborates with the Friendship Shelter Featuring live music performances during the November 6, Art Walk from 6-9 pm
The member galleries of First Thursday’s Art Walk have designated the next First Thursday, November 6th, to the support of he Friendship Shelter and the sale of the “Shelter ME” CD. Three of the musicians who collaborated on a CD entitled Shelter Me, released this summer, will perform at Whelan Gallery on the North end, Studio Arts at the Old Pottery Place, and Watercolor Gallery on South Coast Highway between 6-9 pm.
Musicians include folk-rocker Alec Bridges, a graduate of Laguna Beach high School; rock-poet Mick Overman of Los Angeles; and singer-songwriter Jelani Diaz, who was himself homeless recently.
“Every working musician is a heartbeat away from homelessness,” Diaz says, and this might be said of artists of all types.
The three musicians will entertain ArtWalk visitors with their very special music, and CD’s will be sold at participating galleries, as well as Laguna Beach Books, Sound Spectrum, Hobie’s and Latitude 33 Bookshop, local merchants who have been supporting the project.
Shelter Me is a one-of-a-kind compilation of songs written and recorded by professional Southern California musicians as an homage to the homeless and in the hopes of raising funds for Friendship Shelter. Conceived by writer-producer Scott Hays of Weed Patch Productions, many well-known musicians contributed their time and talent for no other reason than compassion and a desire to make a difference.
“The thread running through these compositions isn’t desperation or hopelessness, but rather grace and mercy,” says producer Scott Hays.
Thirteen professionally produced songs, with roots in rock, blues, folk and country music, reflect the hope and longings of the more than 35,000 people who lived on the streets of Orange County last year, and the nearly 3.5 million homeless throughout the country. Among the nationally recognized performers who participated in the project are wonderful street musicians, including Laguna Beach street guitarist David Holland, making this a compilation both by and for the homeless. The message is simple: enjoy the music, help the homeless.
All proceeds benefit Friendship Shelter programs in honor of the organization’s 20th anniversary. The Laguna Beach facility is the only residential shelter for the homeless in south Orange County and also operates transitional living apartments in San Clemente for shelter graduates.
The compilation brought together dozens of talents who all donated their time and music, including MZB recording Studio in Tustin, who provided production facilities and engineering. Music tracks are available for preview at the Friendship Shelter website and the album can also be purchased on-line at www.cdbaby.com.
For further information, contact Randy Kraft at Friendship Shelter
494.6928 rkraft@friendshipshelter.org
For information regarding First Thursday’s Art Walk www.firstthursdaysartwalk.com/949-683-6871.
